ORLANDO, Fla. – Children’s faces reflected upon the golden globe that rests at the pinnacle of the Larry O’Brien Trophy as they gathered at the base of a podium in the gymnasium of Orlando’s Northwest Community Center to hear NBA Legends and influential sports business leaders speak.

The trophy is the tangible reward named after the one-time NBA Commissioner and it is presented to the NBA Champion at the culmination of each NBA postseason.

But while the Magic are in earnest pursuit of the NBA’s highest accolade, the team has not lost sight of its off-the-court commitments to the youth of Orlando.

The latest in a series of urban Orlando reading and learning centers to be renovated by the Magic, the Northwest Community Center now features a library stocked with new books, a game room, a renovated technology center outfitted with brand-new laptops and a printer. The center also received new couches, tables, cabinets, desks, chairs, bookcases and most importantly, an invigorating environment that will allow the minds of Orlando’s youth to be positively nurtured.

“I think having a place to play is paramount in the life of any individual,” said Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle, a static benevolent figure in the Orlando community. “So I’m very happy to be a part of this amazing celebration in which we can create the opportunity to not just learn but the opportunity to understand how important and vital sports is to the lives of young people.”

The renovation reflects the Magic’s commitment to advancement of literacy in Orlando, one of the organization’s three charitable focus areas, along with health/wellness and the arts. The Northwest Community Center renovation is the fourth renovation the Magic have done this season alone.

“The NBA and the Orlando Magic understand the importance of making Central Florida a better place to live, in particular for our youth,” said Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins, who was joined in attendance by numerous NBA Hall-of-Famers, local elected officials and NBA representatives, including NBA Commissioner David Stern. “That is why we joined together today in opening and rededicating this reading and learning center. The center is part of the Magic’s commitment to assisting our local community with reading and learning programs as well as computer labs. It gives our kids the opportunity to get off the street, do things after school and most importantly prepare themselves for the next stage of their lives.”

The NBA, where caring happens.

Just ask the kids at the Northwest Community Center in Orlando.